Family Lore
Audacy
All families tell stories about themselves. Those stories are passed down, and like an intergenerational game of telephone, the details sometimes change from fact to fiction. But have you ever wondered how much of the lore is actually true? Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Whether it’s a grandfather who flew before the Wright Brothers, a great-aunt who invented the margarita, or a great-uncle who killed a Texas ranching scion, each story offers an intimate glimpse into the familial fables that captivate us. Family Lore is an Audacy original podcast. For more compelling stories of American history, listen to Cement City and Hope, Through History (with Jon Meacham and The HISTORY® Channel), available in this feed.
Rank History (30 days)
Recent Episodes
20 episodesPortrait of a Lady
The granddaughter of a prolific Jewish art collector who fled Europe during World War II embarks on a quest to recover the looted art.
Chasing Diamonds
A Dutch retiree never knew what his father experienced in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. But when he finds his father's journal, he discovers some unfinished business.
The Power of Family Stories
Author Bruce Feiler discusses the fascinating links between family stories and the elusive concept of happiness.
The Real Rosie
During World War II, posters featuring a brash and beautiful woman inspired others to take up factory jobs and support America's war effort. "Rosie The Riveter" would become a symbol of American gumption. But was Rosie a real person?
A Texas Feud
A love triangle between ranching families in the Texas Panhandle has fatal consequences. Over a 100 years later, the killer's great-niece revives the story.
The Grandfather of Snowboarding
Did a family man's backyard invention change the world of outdoor sports?
If Mosquito Hawks Can Fly
A Louisiana man born into slavery designs an airship with hopes to take flight. Those plans are interrupted, but maybe not forever.
The Unsinkable Margarita Sames
The margarita is arguably the most famous cocktail in the world. But have you ever stopped to wonder who was the first to make it?
Introducing Family Lore
All families tell stories about themselves. Those stories are passed down, and like an intergenerational game of telephone, the details sometimes change from fact to fiction. But have you ever wondered how much of the lore is actually true? Welcome to Season 1 of Family Lore, a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates the tales we hear at home.
Cement City: Episode 10 | A Thousand Pairs of Untied Shoes
Jeanne Marie and Erin are closing in on a year in Donora. At Twinkle Bright Night they face existential questions: Will the new mayor save council? Is the community college going to come? What’s gonna happen to this town, anyway? But first things first: will Jeanne Marie and Erin ever leave?
Cement City: Episode 9 | No Indictments
It’s the general election! Yancey vs. Ed! The future of Donora is on the line, and ballot tampering and election denialism are in the air.
Cement City: Episode 8 | Don’t Bitch About the Smog
Other towns have apples. Or pumpkin festivals. Donora has smog. Mayor Piglet sees this as an opportunity, and Donora is totally transformed — if only for a day.
Cement City: Episode 7 | Make Sure You Take Care of Vicki
Donora to the rescue!... of itself. Jeanne Marie and Erin discover the intricacies of Donora self-provided, self-maintained, totally improvised safety net.
Cement City: Episode 6 | The Island of Donora
There’s trouble everywhere. Jeanne Marie and Erin realize what the town has always known: This town isn’t on anyone’s radar. No one is coming in to help.
Cement City: Episode 5 | Great Societies Crumble from Within
Indictments! Scandal and intrigue! The s***show on council is worse than anyone could have imagined.
Cement City: Episode 4 | Big Day in a Little Town
It’s Election Day. A ragtag group of rookies is promising change and looking for a clean sweep. Jeanne Marie sees a potential hero and falls hard.
Cement City: Episode 3 | The Skeleton Crew
It’s gridlock on council and nothing’s getting done. An upcoming election feels like the only ray of hope.
Cement City: Episode 2 | Just as Good as Ever
Donora has no banks, no gas stations, no schools. Jeanne Marie and Erin discover the one thing that could bring the town back to life.
Cement City: Episode 1 | I’ll Die Here
Jeanne Marie and Erin wander off the highway into Donora, Pa, a dying town with a dark secret. They decide to buy a house. A solid concrete house. In a neighborhood called Cement City.
Introducing Cement City: I Think I Like You
Two journalists stumble into a dying rust belt town with a Smog Museum and a mayor named Piglet… and not a whole lot else. They have one burning question: What’s it like to live here? In a town left for dead. But it’s not dead. Donora, PA will not go down without a fight.